In Troyes, the Y Schools higher education center taken over by a global giant in the sector

This is a first step which should already reassure Y Schools students and their families, and boost enrollment prospects: all activities of the higher education and research center come under the control of Global University Systems (GUS).

A decision validated this Friday, May 21 by the judicial court of Troyes (Aube) for the South Champagne Business School, the École Supérieure de Tourisme (also present in Metz), the higher school of design and the International School of Management and Entrepreneurship in Cameroon (in Yaoundé and Douala).

A former Minister of Universities as interlocutor

The first contacts were made in the summer of 2025, exchanges which evolved into exclusive negotiations when the receivership was declared at the end of March. It must be said that the pedigree of this global player in higher education is impressive. Based in London, present in the Netherlands, England, Germany, the United States, Canada and India, GUS has nearly 174,000 face-to-face students, and more than 20 million online learners on the FutureLearn training platform. If one of their German schools has a small campus in Paris, this is their first real acquisition in France. “The objective is that they can develop with us,” rejoices Julien Renoult, general director of Y Schools.

Founding chairman of the British entity Aaron Etingen started in 2003 with 24 students at the London School of Business and Finance. “It’s a group that has been established for around thirty years through organic growth, but also with institutions that have been brought back,” indicates Julien Renoult. “GUS was built on the belief that excellence and innovation must go hand in hand in higher education, and this philosophy underpins the highly selective approach we take in choosing the institutions with which we partner,” commented Aaron Etingen in a statement. “We look forward to working closely with the Y SCHOOLS teams and supporting the essential role it continues to play in the Troyes region, Aube and beyond.”

Meetings with one of the group’s senior executives and true academic guarantor, Jo Johnson (brother of former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former Minister of Universities in the United Kingdom), helped to strengthen the interest in this marriage. “We have someone who has a global vision and who masters the standards of each ministry of higher education,” admires the boss of Y Schools.

Recognized diplomas, a guarantee of seriousness

What appealed to the British? Firstly the quality of the Y Schools teams, but also the cross-functional training portfolio and the presence in Cameroon, a model not very common in France. “It is also a multi-sectoral group. They have training in business, management, creative industry, tourism, health, psychology, law…” notes Tony Thuillier, marketing director of the Trojan group.

The recognition of diplomas by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research is also a guarantee of seriousness in the eyes of the British. “Today, we have a significant number of diplomas in different fields. We feel that research and academic excellence are among their prerequisites, as is employability,” recalls Séverine Nomdedeu, director of initial training.

Finally, the quality of Trojan infrastructure has attracted investors, such as the Brossolette campus but also the Saint-Martin campus of the higher school of design, within the former Saint-Martin-ès-Aires abbey built in the 17th century. Campuses which were able to see the light of day thanks to “the significant support” of the Troyes Chamber of Commerce and Industry, then the departmental council of Aube and Troyes Champagne Métropole. “It allows you to be rather coherent when there are people of this caliber who come to see you,” adds Julien Renoult.

A recovery that opens up international prospects

In the midst of a concentration of higher education players, the takeover offer from Global University Systems represents a real solution for the future for the Trojan group: “Each time they have had to take over establishments, it is long-term and they manage to develop them,” specifies Julien Renoult. “It is also this benefit that we will have for our students, with a better experience in Troyes and international perspectives.”

Initially, the objective will be to stabilize what is in place and provide more resources to students. “It’s important because we still went through some somewhat difficult moments…” breathes Séverine Nomdedeu. “We must also allow ourselves to strengthen the attractiveness of our schools in Troyes, before we can develop.” The current management team will remain in place. But she does not hide it, there will be layoffs in the administrative and financial sector, a consequence of the expected pooling within Global University Systems.

And then there are the other activities of Y Schools on the more professional side: the 2nd chance school for young people looking for training and employment, the development and professional training center for companies and individuals, without forgetting the Pigier schools in Troyes, Reims and Metz. Not taken over by the English and still in receivership, these entities will know their fate between the end of June and the beginning of July 2026. “The journey is not over, the other activities of Y Schools are also close to our hearts,” assures Séverine Nomdedeu.